The Butterflies of Valais, Switzerland.

 

Switzerland, showing 1000m, 2000m and 3000m altitude.

 

 

Rectangular section detailed below

 

More Swiss information

Mt. Calanda Butterflies and Moths (Switzerland)

  

During August 1999, while on honeymoon, we had the privilege of staying a week in Évolène situated in the Val d'Hérens in the province of Valais, Switzerland. The diversity of Butterfly species, not to mention beautiful scenery, made it an unforgettable week. I'll give some information of where we went and what we saw, and of course show some of the pictures I took.

Small apollo - Parnassius phoebe

Small apollo - Parnassius phoebe photographed at Ferpècle.

Eison Evolene Ferpecle Sion Sanetsch Valais map

Please click on the map for a species list of that particular area.

 

Scarce copper, Lycaena virgaureae In the Rhone valley itself, near to Sion, a different selection of species fly. The Scarce copper, Lycaena virgaureae was common in most places, but it was also the only place I saw Meleager's blue, Meleageria daphne. Higher up the number of new species I saw and photographed increased dramatically, although earlier in the year lower altitudes have their own unique richness of xerothermophilious (someone explain please!) species. Meleager's blue, Meleageria daphne

I've split the photos into two parts, to make things a little more manageable.

The area around Évolène, through forest up to rich sub-alpine meadows.

Damon blue - Agrodiateus damon

Cynthia's fritillary - Mellitaea cynthia

 Above Eison, through fields up to Alpine meadows at 2500m
 

Huge thanks must go to Gilles Carron for his recommendations of places to visit in Valais. He particularly praised Val d'Hérens as one side has a ski-lift ban.

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© All pictures in these pages copyright to Simon Coombes. Permission must be sought and obtained for any use.

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© All pictures in these pages copyright to Simon Coombes. Permission must be sought and obtained for any use.